MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – Ronald White was among the dozens of people without housing who traveled in buses from Camillus House in Miami to a hostel in Miami Beach.
White said the sudden move to the Bikini Hostel, Cafe & Beer Garden, along West Avenue, near 13 Street, in South Beach, was inconsiderate.
“I was at work when they called,” White said. “They just said we have to move all of our stuff ... I feel it was disrespectful, very, because they didn’t tell us where we were going. They wouldn’t tell us where we were going. Our counselors didn’t know. They just told us we had to go and if we didn’t go, we would be discharged and we would be back on the street again.”
Alex Fernandez, the Miami Beach vice mayor, and Joe Magazine, a Miami Beach commissioner, said they had just learned about a 30-day contract with the hostel.
The move happened hours after Miami-Dade County Circuit Judge Antonio Arzola denied a lawsuit related to a Miami Beach ballot referendum that city commissioners rescinded. If passed, the referendum would have implemented a 1% city food and beverage tax to fund services for people without housing.
“One can only assume that it’s a political message to our city,: you’re not contributing to the one percent sales tax to address homeless and domestic violence issues, so we’re just going to ship you these individuals and you guys pay for it out of your taxpayers pockets.”
Arsola cited two reasons for denying the plaintiff’s motion, finding they lack the standing to challenge the commission and that the city has the power to pass the repealing resolution by a 4-3 vote.
Ron Book, a lobbyist behind the campaign in support of the proposed tax and the chairman of the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust, said the Camillus House informed the city of Miami about two months ago that they would be jacking up the rates per bed.
Fernandez said he was not aware if food or other services were included in the contract with the hostel.
Book said Miami’s contract with Camillus House ended on Friday, so the new rates more than doubled before the judge’s referendum ruling was issued. He said the decision to relocate the group of 53 had nothing to do with the court’s ruling.
Book added that the booking with the hostel includes two daily meals. Kenia Fallat, a spokeswoman for the city of Miami, was preparing a statement corroborating Book’s statement.
This is a developing story.
Read the ruling below: